While We're Here In Hebrew School...

This was the greatest Shabbat I've ever experienced.  Our class did Kabbalat Shabbat on Friday evening outside on the lawn that faces the Old City.  Just as the siren went off signalling the beginning of Shabbat, there was a beautiful breeze.  It went through the palm trees, everyone's spirit, and made me cry.  I don't think I've ever felt more connected to the spirit of Shabbat before.  All my classmates noticed my big smile and body language the whole time. Simply marvelous.

Today was the first day of class.  The summer session is only three classes: Ulpan (for learning Hebrew), Cantillation (for learning how to read Torah melodically), and Biblical History.  Every Sunday is pure Ulpan with exception of morning prayers and a few breaks.  It was a rough day; I was placed in the most advanced level which at first I thought was above me.  However, based on the conversations with the class and that I understood almost everything the teacher said the first time, I think this will be a good fit.  I am also prepared to do whatever extra work will be needed in order to keep my placement in this class.  Hopefully I'll get some sort of assessment from the teacher soon so we can figure out how I will benefit from the Ulpan setting. 

My class contains the students who have lived in Israel for long periods of time and those who primarily studied Hebrew in temple and at college.  Some people had very advanced levels of grammar and vocabulary while others slightly less advanced.  At first, I was very nervous about this class because I thought I was best suited for the middle level class.  Our teacher's name is Osnat, and she has been very very patient with us.  I'm looking forward to this year.

With my computer battery here, finally, my still unnamed computer can finally travel with me to classes.  Probably not for Hebrew--I still like taking notes on paper in a foreign language.  Of course, that means SCHOOL SUPPLY SHOPPING!  This has been one of my favorite parts of the year for as long as I can remember.  One major plus about Israel: EVERYTHING is made for leftys, since the writing is right to left!  The downside is that the sheets of paper, notebooks, etc. is all bigger than the standard US pages.  Also, the binders only have two rings, so the hole punchers have to be ones that only punch two.  I guess I'll just learn to deal with that.

OK, friends.  Time for homework.   Catch you later!

"While We're Here in Hebrew School" is one of the beginning verses of the famous Debbie Friedman song, "The Aleph Bet Song."